Wastewater Recycling on the ISS: Coffee Production July 2025
Axiom Mission 4 Crew Shares Space Station Life, Prepares for Earth Return
The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew, currently aboard the International space Station (ISS), has been actively engaging in scientific research and sharing their unique experiences with the world. The four-person private astronaut mission, which launched on July 8, is nearing its conclusion, with the crew scheduled to depart the orbiting laboratory on Monday, July 14.
A Taste of Home in Orbit
In a heartwarming display of cultural exchange and astronaut camaraderie, Polish astronaut Sławosz ”Suave” Uznański-Wiśniewski of ESA joined veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson to share the first pierogi eaten in space. This culinary milestone, a beloved Polish dish, offered a taste of home for Uznański-Wiśniewski and a delightful new experience for the crew.The four Ax-4 crew members also provided a live science update from orbit, offering a glimpse into their daily work and the groundbreaking research being conducted.
The Ax-4 crew is slated to undock from the ISS on Monday, July 14, at 7:05 a.m. EDT (1105 GMT). Their return to Earth will conclude with a splashdown off the coast of California,weather permitting.
By the Numbers: The ISS Crew and Configuration
As of Friday, July 11, the International Space Station is a bustling hub of activity with 11 people on board. The current crew comprises:
Expedition 73 Commander: Takuya Onishi of JAXA
NASA Astronauts: Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, and Jonny kim (all flight engineers)
Roscosmos Cosmonauts: Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky (all flight engineers)
Ax-4 Crew: Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of ISRO, Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of ESA, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of HUNOR.
The station currently hosts three docked crew spacecraft:
SpaceX’s Dragon “endurance” is attached to the forward port of the Harmony module.
Dragon ”Grace” is docked to the space-facing port of Harmony.
Roscosmos’ Soyuz MS-27 is attached to the Earth-facing port of the Prichal node.
Additionally, two docked cargo spacecraft are supporting the station’s operations:
Roscosmos’ progress MS-30 (91P) is attached to the aft port of the Zvezda service module.
* Progress MS-31 (92P) is docked to the space-facing port of the Poisk module.
The International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence for an impressive 24 years, 8 months, and 10 days, a testament to ongoing international collaboration in space exploration.